Poll Confirms: Brown Bubble Has Burst

The "Brown Bounce" is over, says the Guardian. A sobering new poll puts Labour five points behind the Tories, the lowest showing for the party since Gordon Brown entered No. 10. Based on the distribution of seats, Labour would have remained the largest party in the Commons but lost its majority had tomorrow's canceled general election taken place.

Brown began his fight back last week with a major speech on liberty and security at a university, and Labour is hoping that the Liberal Democrats will cut the Tory lead when the third party elects a new leader. But the damage has been done: Brown's indecision has played badly in the media, while David Cameron, written off for dead a month ago, is leading a jubilant party. (More Gordon Brown stories.)